Chiefs’ Alex Smith, Chase Daniel welcome selection of a quarterback
Chiefs quarterbacks Alex Smith and Chase Daniel liked what they saw in the team’s draft this weekend, and welcomed the addition of Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray.
“This time, you’re excited about all the guys we’ve got, all the additions to the team,” said Smith, who was at Kansas Speedway with several teammates on Saturday night attending the NASCAR Sprint Cup race. “Time will only tell. It’s time to get to work and get those guys in and see.”
The Chiefs selected Murray, the Southeastern Conference’s career passing leader, in the fifth round. Smith, 30, is in the last year of his contract, so Murray could be a hedge in case Smith and the Chiefs reach an impasse in negotiations.
“I’ve got no ideas as far as that goes,” Smith said. “I’m certainly not reading anything into it from that standpoint. I’ve played with I don’t know how many draft picks to this point in my career. I still have a year left, there’s still so much time …”
Murray joins Smith, Daniel and second-year man Tyler Bray, who was signed as an undrafted rookie last year, on the roster.
“You always have to have four arms for camp,” said Smith. “That’s to be expected. We knew a new guy was going to come in, we just didn’t know how.
“We didn’t (draft) a guy last year, so I’m not surprised at all that we took one this year. It’s the name of the game. I’ve been around long enough to play with a lot of different guys, a lot of different draft picks, and you have to have competition at every position, and quarterback (included).
Daniel, who started the season finale last year in his first season with the Chiefs, was eager to work with Murray.
“I’m excited about Aaron,” Daniel said. “He played in the SEC, and has every single record ever set. I’m excited to get him in here, teach him a little bit. I’m excited to compete with him and get better.
“The draft was good. We made out pretty well. We got some playmakers in the draft. We got some developmental guys, and we’ll continue to build the ship.”
The Chiefs gave Smith a new weapon in Oregon running back De’Anthony Thomas, a dynamic running back/receiver/returner from Oregon. Thomas projects as a replacement for Dexter McCluster, who signed with Tennessee as a free agent.
“I watched him from afar,” Smith said. “We’ll see how he fits in the offense and what coach (Andy) Reid and everybody has in mind. The more weapons you’ve got, the better.”
This story was originally published May 10, 2014 at 7:05 PM with the headline "Chiefs’ Alex Smith, Chase Daniel welcome selection of a quarterback."